After leaving Izamal, day 11 of our Gate 1 tour brought us to our hotel at Chichen Itzá, Mayaland Hotel & Bungalows. This was a one-night stay before heading to the archaeological site in the morning.
The History
This beautiful hotel is nestled in the jungle, right in the heart of the archaeological park of Chichen Itzá. American archaeologist Edward H. Thompson owned the land on which the hotel and archaeological site sit. The land was later sold in 1944 to the Barbachano family from the Yucatan. The owners had a long-standing battle with the Mexican government over land rights, and the land where Chichen Itzá sits was finally purchased by the government in 2010. The family retained the land where the hotel sat.
The Other Guests
We were told we were supposed to stay in the bungalows found throughout the property, but there was a women’s spiritual retreat there that weekend. They get up at dawn every morning with their bongos and chanting to welcome in the day. We were moved to the main building so the noise would not disturb us. We would rather have stayed in the bungalows.
The Entrance
The entrance to the hotel was very modest but felt very welcoming, with the vines growing around the front entry. We loved how the hotel really tried to keep everything as authentic as possible; even the staff are of Mayan descent.
The entranceway had a beautiful art display made of dried beans, corn, and spices.
Looking out from the lobby, you get this fantastic view, and our room is just upstairs from here. The amazing sunsets are spectacular.
Our room was on the second floor, with the same fantastic view as the lobby.
The hotel room was very large yet modestly appointed. The room had no internet or TV, as wifi is only available in public spaces. This was a bare minimum room, so if you are looking for more than that, this place may not be right for you.
The Pools
After checking in, we decided to swim in one of the three on-site pools. We needed to chill out a bit before dinner later that evening. And our feet enjoyed the cold water.
The Art and Architecture
After our swim, we still had about an hour and a half before dinner, so we decided to go off and explore the property. The artwork and sculptures were terrific and kept to the true theme of the hotel.
Flora and Fauna
The landscaping was gorgeous and also very soothing. The walkways curved throughout the property to provide an organic feeling. And once again, we got to see one of Chuck’s top 5 animals, the coatimundi.
Random Buildings
Dinner
We had a group dinner tonight and were given three options, one always being vegetarian.
Our first course was a salad; honestly, we were not impressed and didn’t even recall what was on the plate. Mark chose the chile relleno for the second course, and Chuck chose the grilled shrimp. The dessert was a coconut flan.
And during dinner, we were serenaded by these handsome men. One of our fellow travelers paid for them to stay for another hour to play. It was a lovely evening under the stars.
We enjoyed our one-night stay here but would definitely not stay here for more than 2 nights. It just needs to be more connected for us. It was so close to Chichén Itzá that it made it much easier to get to the site before the crowds got heavy. And we didn’t have to get up at the crack of dawn. 🙂
